Heading East
Book tour stops can feel like parties thrown by friends you don’t know, and last month, it was time to snap on our party hats. From sunny Bethany Beach Books on the Delaware boardwalk to Jenn Carlson’s cozy Sparta Books in New Jersey to Jeff Kinney’s An Unlikely Story in Massachusetts, I was very happy to head back East.
You can never tell who might show up at a bookstore party—and meeting AOC at Astoria Bookshop was one unexpected highlight. Another joyful moment—reconnecting with dear friend Jenny Han for an event at Barnes & Noble Atlantic. (I’ve had such heart-eyes this month for those gigantic The Summer I Turned Pretty billboards on Sunset!)
When the boys were little and we lived upstate, I have great memories of rainy afternoons in the sanctuary of Oblong Books—the tall shelves and creaky back stairs—and more locally, Kira Wizner’s charming Merritt Bookstore. Merritt is some magic; in addition to books and a second floor of costumes and toys, it’s got a unique selection of gifts—a party in itself.
The Favor is inspired by my journey to family through surrogacy, so on the tour, I’ve been talking a lot about that connection. I’ve enjoyed heartfelt conversations on podcasts such as Book Gang, Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, The Bookish Life, Robin Reads, and Life’s Accessories (those will all be available for your ears soon), and I wrote a piece for Good Housekeeping. Engaging so personally with readers has been really gratifying—even for a part-time introvert like myself.
This fall, we’re heading up to Northern California and Washington as the adventure continues and the party keeps rolling. Friends from this area, drop me a note so we can meet up, and I’ll share those event details soon.
